Mel's Baby Sister Crowned Retired Racehorse of the Year

Eleven months after her retirement from racing, Mel's Baby Sister made a return to Saratoga to collect her Down Broadway Award as New York's Retired Racehorse of the Year as decided by the voting public via an online poll.

The prize is named in honor of the first horse to retire though the Take The Lead program back in 2013. Mel's Baby Sister race in the colors of August Dawn Farm and was trained by Melanie Giddings to a lone career victory before ultimately retiring after two unplaced efforts during the Saratoga Summer meet. Giddings joined the new owners, the Richardson Family from New Jersey, in the winner's enclosure.

“She was such a spunky personality to train on the track, but she was a total sweetheart in the barn,” Giddings said. “I mean, everybody really, really loved to be around her. It's so good to see how happy she is.”

“She is just a kind soul,” Kendra Richardson said about the 4-year-old grey filly. “She is going to be part of the Retired Racehorse Project. It's so important to raise awareness that these horses have so much potential beyond the racetrack.”